Top court vows crackdown on marine crimes

China's top court has reaffirmed its strong stance against illegal fishing and the illegal harvesting of marine species, emphasizing the need for continued crackdowns on activities that harm the marine ecology and enhanced efforts to protect biodiversity.

On Friday, the Supreme People's Court reiterated its commitment to tackling these issues, one day before the Ecological and Environmental Code takes effect. Adopted in March by the National People's Congress — the country's top legislative body — the code provides a solid legal foundation and clear judicial standards for maritime-related cases.

In one of the cases highlighted by the court, 19 people were sentenced to prison and fined earlier this year for repeatedly using rented fishing boats to illegally harvest red coral. The ringleader, identified by the surname Ye, organized a group to charter a fishing vessel for four illegal trips to collect the coral.

On June 5, 2025, China Coast Guard officers apprehended the vessel in the country's exclusive economic zone and detained 12 crew members. Seven others involved in harvesting, transporting and selling the coral were arrested in subsequent operations.

An appraisal identified the seized red coral, totaling 64,818 grams and valued at more than 25.92 million yuan ($3.84 million), as a national first-class protected species.

The Ningbo Maritime Court in Zhejiang province found all 19 defendants guilty of endangering rare and protected wildlife. They received sentences ranging from nine months to 12 years and six months in prison, depending on their roles and the severity of their offenses. The court also imposed fines, confiscated their illegal profits and seized the vessel and harvesting equipment.

The SPC highlighted the ruling as an exemplary case of how a maritime court can use its expertise to protect the marine ecosystem.

"Red coral is under China's top-level national protection, and the country holds sovereign rights over biological resources in its exclusive economic zone. The maritime court's decision not only upholds national maritime rights, combats offenses against marine species like red coral and penalizes ecological crimes, but also protects biosecurity and reinforces the legal defense line for ocean ecosystem security," the SPC said.

The other five cases disclosed by the top court involved shipping pollution, maritime public interest litigation and land resource pollution.

Adjudication emphasized

The SPC stressed the crucial role of adjudication in maritime environmental protection and sustainable development, urging judges nationwide to accurately implement the code to ensure the orderly use of marine resources and contribute to building a maritime community with a shared future.

While emphasizing the need for harsh penalties against polluters, the top court also encouraged collaborative efforts and diverse approaches to environmental restoration to resolve maritime disputes efficiently and cost-effectively.

As China's second law designated as a "code", the Ecological and Environmental Code addresses the long-standing problem of fragmented environmental legislation, which has led to overlapping provisions and poor coordination among different laws. Its enactment represents a landmark move in the country's environmental protection and low-carbon development efforts.

The code comprises five sections and 1,242 articles and establishes six fundamental principles: prevention first, systemic governance, ecological priority, green development, public participation and the polluter pays.

caoyin@chinadaily.com.cn